It was a slow week in week 12 of the shop sweep. Inclement weather meant there were limited entries, however the results are as follows:
Paul R Martin - 31pts £30
Paddy Conway - 30pts £20
Oliver Gallagher - 30pts £10
Winning the gross once again was Martin LCG Monaghan +3 £30. For the second week in a row we have had a Hole-in-One. Oliver Gallagher had a HIO this week at the 8th following John Monaghan's HIO the previous week. Two's paid £12 each.
New 2015 stock is arriving daily and I will endeavor to keep you informed as the season develops. I will be carrying out some minor shop improvements in the next couple of weeks, namely new carpeted areas and a 'Grip Bar' to help make the purchase of new grips an easier prospect. There should be minimal disruption to the everyday operation of the shop.
Martin Kaymer may have blown a 10-shot lead over the weekend but for the first three and a bit rounds he put on an exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Putting his final-day meltdown to one side, there was one shot during the third round that really stood out for us and that's when he holed a long greenside bunker shot for par when it looked for all the world he would walk off with a double bogey.
For many amateur golfers, bunker shots are feared to such a degree that they'd rather be anywhere but in the sand - but it needn't be that way if you work on your technique. Work on setting the ball forward in your stance; this will create a shallow angle of attack and encourage a sand-before-ball strike.
A simple drill to help you groove that perfect contact is draw a line in the bunker behind the ball, as shown. Concentrate on striking the line and after just a few goes you'll be amazed at how quickly the 'feel' develops. You may even come to relish a greenside bunker shot!
Click here to let us know how you get on or ask about a lesson if you want some help.
